Jasper Brandisi: the poet they tried to erase

Chances are, you will never have heard of the poet, Jasper Brandisi (July 17th, 1929-July 16th, 1988). That’s because his name has all but been erased from history. If I hadn’t met Jasper by chance, back in 1976, maybe I wouldn’t have heard of him either. Let me go back to the beginning. In the… Continue reading Jasper Brandisi: the poet they tried to erase

The Perfect Curry

Anyone seeking out the “authentic curry experience” is on a fool’s errand. Leaving definition aside, everybody’s got a different idea of what makes for a Perfect Curry. There are so many variations it’s easy to boggle the mind as well as the palate. Even narrowing it down to just dishes from the Indian Sub-Continent, there are almost as… Continue reading The Perfect Curry

Stewart Lee on “Not Writing”

Comedy is subjective. So is writing. I’ve just come across a 45-minute video I felt I had to share. It skirts around both subjects and comes up with some savoury little insights. The video will not please everybody. The comments below it are a testament to that. But anyone who shares my vague interest in… Continue reading Stewart Lee on “Not Writing”

Charles Dickens Characters

Charles Dickens, drawing by JR Brown (1898–90)

Charles Dickens‘ characters fall into two main categories: the memorable and the totally unforgettable. I can think of no other author who has created such vivid fictional characters. In no particular order: The Artful Dodger, Smike, Joe Gargery, Fagin, Scrooge. Wilkins Micawber, Sam Weller, Daniel Quilp, Mr Dick, Bill Sykes. Magwitch, Frederick Dorrit, Mr Merdle,… Continue reading Charles Dickens Characters

Write A Novel The Easy Way

Never mind the old cliché that says ‘there’s a novel inside everyone’. It might well be true, but the tricky part is getting it out and on to paper. You might be surprised to hear that there’s never been a better time to write a novel. After 23 years trying, I think I’ve finally discovered… Continue reading Write A Novel The Easy Way